Heelless sock



L H.CONLEY.

HEELLESS SOCK.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.12, I920.

Patented July 19, 1921.

INVENfOfi WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HEELLESS SOGK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J lily 19, 1921.

Application filed January 12, 1920. Serial No. 350,970,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LAFAYETTE H. CON- LEY, a citizen of the United States, reslding at bault Ste. Mario, in the county of Chippewa and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Heelless Sock, of whlch the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to heelless socks, and its object is to provide a knit sock in which the ankle and instep sections are sufficiently elastic to permit the use of the finished article without requiring the knitting of the heel. e In accordance with the invention, the leg portion of the sock is made by a known stitch and this is-merged into another form of stitch of suflicient elasticity in the finished article to permit conformation to the ankle and instep portions of the foot, while the foot part of the sock is formed of a plain stitch giving a smooth tread for the foot, the whole resulting in a heelless sock which will fit the ankle and instep in any position without bulging or wrinkling. The resultant sock will fit the foot however put on and is not restricted to one position of application as is necessary with a sock having a shaped heel. Because of this the life of the sock is greatly prolonged and no hurt or fatigue is produced when it is necessar to stand or walk all day.

he invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showlng of the drawing, butmay be changed and modified so long as such changes and modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawing there is shown an eleyation of a sock produced in accordance with the invention, the showing being more or less diagrammatic.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown a knit sock comprising a leg portion 1, a foot portion 2 and an intermediate section 3 which may be termed the heel and instep section. although the sock does not include a specially formed heel section.

The leg section 1 is formed by knitting and purling. The section 3 deslgned to 1nclose the heel and instep portion of the foot is also formed by knitting and purling with the purl ng sensibly advanced more than the leg portlon m such manner as to produce a spiral or dlagonal stitch which, however, stops as soon as the foot section 2, is detached, the latter being completed by plain stltching.

In order that the invention may be better understood, dlrections are given for knitt1n a sock embodying the invention.

or the leg of a sock of a. certain size, cast twenty st tches on three needles (sixty StltChQS). Kn1t three, purl one, for leg of sock (any length).

For the heel section 3, increase the stitch to twenty-one on each needle, (sixty-three stltches). Knlt two and purl 1 for two rounds. Then knit three, purl 1, and knit two and purl one for two rounds. This adyances the purl stitch one stitch. Continue n this manner for about thirty rounds, makmg the heel about four inches long and advancing the purl stitch every third round.

For the body of the foot knit plain, narrowing nine stitches first round (fifty-four stitches). Then knit plain five and threequarter inches.

For the toe narrow one stitch on each needle, (makin fifty-one stitches in all). Knit three roun s, then narrow one stitch on each needle (forty-eight stitches). Narrow one stitch on each needle (forty-five stltches). Knit three rounds, narrow one stitch on each needle (forty-two stitches). Knit two rounds, narrow as before for three times (thirty-three stitches). Narrow one stitch each round until ten stitches are on the needles and then narrow two stitches on each needle until one remains. Break off the foot and reinforce the end.

Different sizes of socks have to be knit in proportion, causing a variation in the number of stitches in each round and also in the number of rounds in each section of the sock.

Vhile the different stitches do not in themselves form part of the invention it is by the combination of these stitches that the results accomplished by the invention are obtained. The heel portion is not a formed heel and therefore the sock may be applied in any direction, circumferentially, to the heel. For this reason the sock will give service to two or three times as long as an ordinary sock made of the same material, for the heel may be applied at any point about the spiral portion of the sock. In

the case of a spiral sock knit all the way to the foot, army style, the seams hurt the bottom of the feet when standing or walking all day. Knitting the foot plain removes this objection. In knitting the-toe the stitch narrowed is advanced three stitches each time until across the needle, when the operation is commenced over again. This leaves no lump on the toe and the sock can be ulled on any way.

he same procedure of knitting may be followed for stockings giving them the same long life and freedom from discomfort because of the formation of the ankle and instep sectior. sufficiently elastic to permit the use of the finished article without knitting the heel.

What is claimed is 1. A knit sock or the like, comprising a knit leg portion, a knit and purled portion corresponding to, that part designed to fit the heel and instep of the wearer and with the purling stitches sensibly advanced in a diagonal direction with respect to the stitches of the leg portion, and a plain foot and toe portion.

2. A knit sock or the 'knit and purled leg portion, a knit and purled continuation thereof followed by a further knit and purled portion to advance the purled stitch one stitch with such system continued for an approproate distance to advance the purled stitch every third round throughout the portion corresponding to the heel location, and'thenknit plain with appropriate narrowing to the termination of the toe.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as like comprising a my own, I have hereto affixed my signature.

LAFAYETTE H. CONLEY.

Witnesses:

FLORENCE V. MCDONALD,

MARY MCRORIE. 

